Getting Started
A clear first step toward the right level of care.
Getting started with Wild Acre begins with a confidential conversation.
Whether you are a family member, individual, clinician, psychiatrist, case manager, or referral professional, our admissions team can help you understand the process and determine whether Wild Acre may be an appropriate fit.
Because Wild Acre offers multiple levels of support, admissions is not about choosing the right program on your own. It is a process of understanding the individual’s needs, current supports, treatment history, goals, and readiness for different levels of independence.
How the admissions process works
Step 1
Make an inquiry
The first step is to contact Wild Acre’s admissions team.
All inquiries are reviewed directly by the Director of Admissions and Clinical Services, who serves as the primary point of contact throughout the admissions process.
Inquiries may be started by an individual or family member. A licensed clinical professional, such as a clinician, psychiatrist, case manager, or hospital-based provider, must ultimately submit or be involved in the referral because Wild Acre requires written clinical information and clinical impressions to complete an appropriate review.
You do not need to identify the correct program before reaching out. The initial inquiry is an opportunity to share basic information, ask questions, and determine whether a more detailed clinical screening may be appropriate.
Step 2
Initial conversation and screening
The initial screening begins with a confidential conversation between the admissions team and the individual, family member, or referring provider.
This discussion helps Wild Acre understand the person’s current situation, including diagnosis, current level of functioning, living environment, treatment history, outpatient supports, medication regimen, family involvement, primary challenges, and treatment goals.
If there appears to be a potential fit, the admissions team may request additional clinical documentation. This may include discharge summaries from inpatient or residential stays, neuropsychological testing, treatment records, or other relevant information when available.
Step 3
Clinical review and provider collaboration
Following the initial screening, the Director of Admissions meets with the applicant, either in person or by Zoom, to further discuss their goals, current needs, and overall fit with Wild Acre.
This conversation provides an opportunity to review Wild Acre’s structure in more detail and determine whether the level of support offered aligns with the person’s needs and treatment goals.
Clinical documentation is not required to begin the review process, but it is required before admission. Wild Acre may also collaborate with outpatient providers, psychiatrists, therapists, case managers, hospital-based clinicians, or other members of the treatment team to support a more complete clinical picture.
Step 4
Placement recommendation
After reviewing available clinical information and speaking with the individual and treatment team, Wild Acre determines whether the program may be an appropriate fit.
Because Wild Acre offers a continuum of care, the recommendation may include residential support, transitional living, supportive apartments, home care services, or another level of care outside of Wild Acre.
If a residential setting is recommended, the specific program is determined based on clinical needs, support needs, goals, availability, and the environment most likely to support the individual’s success.
Step 5
Transition planning
Once Wild Acre has been identified as the appropriate fit and an admission date has been established, the Director of Admissions works with the individual, family, and treatment team to coordinate the transition.
Transition planning may include coordinating outpatient appointments, reviewing medication needs, communicating with family and providers, arranging transportation, and preparing the individual for admission.
The goal is to create a thoughtful, well-coordinated transition that promotes continuity of care, reduces uncertainty, and helps each person begin their time at Wild Acre feeling informed, supported, and prepared.
Additional admissions resources
Depending on where you are in the process, these pages may help you learn more about Wild Acre’s admissions approach and care model.
For Referral Professionals
Clinical referral sources can learn more about Wild Acre’s continuum of care, fit considerations, collaborative model, and admissions coordination.
Admissions FAQs
Families often have questions about fit, financial expectations, the inquiry process, outpatient providers, family involvement, and what happens after the first call.
Ready to begin
You do not need to have every answer before reaching out.
Wild Acre’s admissions team can help you understand the process, talk through your family member’s needs, and explain the next step.